Kenworth’s

Features of the Central Control
System
Sentinel has been designed to operate as
an ‘Irrigation Central Control’ system
without a middle manager or the continual
reliance on the office-based computer
or any additional hardware in the field.
Operating outside of the bounds of these
hardware limitations and maintenance
issues is a great benefit to the end user;
as Sentinel relies on nothing more
than the power to be on to operate as
a fully functional water management
system. Sentinel features true two-way
Industry Canada compliant UHF radio
communication, as well as the option
of Landline phone, Cellular, Ethernet,
SCADA, Fiber Optic, or Spread Spectrum,
or a combination of some or all of these
options.
The numerous communication options
allows users to talk to an unlimited
number of satellites over any distance
overcoming typical communication
obstacles rendering many of Toro’s
competitors inoperable. Reporting
capabilities include: Water schedule; Water
usage, ET, Rain fall data, flow graphs,
zone runtimes, alarms status, electrical
status, rain fall and or rain off status,
and daily ET rates, just to mention a few
reports, in print or graph format.
Field Satellite Features
Some features of the Sentinel Field
Satellite include:
• Real time flow monitoring at the
Satellite without requiring additional
components when using flow sensors
with-in the system
• Field satellite retains full functionality
of the entire system thus not being
susceptible to any office computer or
communication malfunctions elsewhere
in the system
• Modular station counts from 12 to 96 in
12-station increments or in a two wire
decoder configuration for up to 200
stations or a hybrid of both
• Two sensor inputs per satellite; up to 4
flow sensor inputs per satellite
• Up to 16 programs and 8 start times per
program, station run times from one
minute to four hours and 59 minutes, or
options of repeats or continuous run
• Global adjustment from 0–250%;
percent adjust by program from 0–250%
• Ability to read and respond to numerous
high end weather stations
• Electrical current draw monitoring will
shut down a station with excessively
high electrical draw and notify the user
and continue program operation
• Ability to operate from one to six
programs simultaneously
• Its true two-way communication allows
for changes in the field to be uploaded
to the central computer and allows twoway
communication with a hand-held
radio in stand –alone mode
• The Sentinel controller in the field
can also act as a re-hub (leapfrog) of
communication in the case of a remote
Sentinel controller residing beyond
the limitations of the standard UHF
communications. Again allowing for
a solid system and minimizing the
customer’s capital expenditures along
the way
Reducing the Carbon Footprint
In addition, all of this can be run without
a connection to the local power grid.
Solar panels and DC power are quickly
taking over the Sentinel picture as more
than just a far-fetched option for power.
Now virtually every one of your Sentinel
irrigation controllers can be solar powered
and retain 100% of the functionality
of the AC powered units. Saves on the
connection cost to the grid and of course
the power to run the site. Saving power
goes hand in hand with saving water and
Sentinel does both very well.
Hand-held and Other Remote
Features
• The hand-held capability in stand-alone
or Central mode allows data commands
to manually turn on individual or
multiple stations, initiate programs,
advance through the system during
winterizing, or complete rain shutdown
to note a few
• Voice and data capable
• System on and off command activation
• Great remote access to zones positioned
in medians, boulevards, distant or hard
to reach sites
• Considered an advancement in Safety
management
• Onsite staffs’ best friend
For more information contact your local
EMCO Waterworks Group location, or
visit: www.toro.com
24 EQUIPMENT REVIEW
www.equipmentreview.ca
Summer 2012 EQUIPMENT REVIEW 25